Private Acts of 1959 Chapter 185

SECTION 1. That the Clerk of the Criminal Courts of Shelby County is hereby authorized to dispose of all abandoned, stolen and/or recovered property, other than as provided in Section 4 herein, which is in said Clerk's custody and possession by virtue of said property having been held as evidence or exhibits in a criminal prosecution. Such disposition shall not be made until a period of six months (6) has elapsed from final adjudication of the case.

SECTION 2. That prior to disposing of said property, the Clerk shall make a reasonable effort to locate the true owner of said property and notify such owner of the Clerk's possession of said property. The true owner, when located, shall claim said property within a reasonable time.

SECTION 3. That prior to disposing of said property under the provisions of this Act, the Clerk shall present to a Judge of one [sic] the Criminal Courts of Shelby County a list of all such property to be disposed of, together with an affidavit that he has made a reasonable search for the true owner thereof, and that said true owner cannot be located. The Clerk shall then procure from said Judge an appropriate order of the Court directing the manner in which such property is to be disposed of.

SECTION 4. That nothing in this Act shall be construed as repealing the provisions of any other Act now in effect which provides for the disposition of abandoned, stolen, recovered and/or contraband property; and provided further that no such property shall be returned to the owner, even if known, if the return of such property may be inimical to the public welfare.

SECTION 5. That this Act shall have no effect unless the same shall have been approved by a two-thirds vote of the Quarterly County Court of Shelby County within ninety days (90) after the sine die adjournment of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee. Its approval or non-approval shall be proclaimed by the presiding officer of the body having jurisdiction to approve, or the reverse, and shall be certified by him to the Secretary of State.

SECTION 6. That this Act shall take effect from and after its passage, the public welfare requiring it.

Passed: March 18, 1959.